Electrical water heater



Jul 10, 1928. 1.676.510

H. C. WELCOMER I ELECTRICAL WATER HEATER Filed Aug. 25, 1927 a Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor ffdriy C'.WZomer Attorney July 10, 1928.

H. C. WELCOMER ELECTRICAL WATER HEATER Filed Aug. 25, 1927 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Harry Mktcomer waoim I Attorney 1 [xi L,Q 4 Q F M mi 1 0 Y w \I@ 4 'm W 9 AH F July 10, 1928.

H. C. WELCOMER ELECTRICAL WATER HEATER Filed Aug. 25, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet gnu-4 II Patented July 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES HARRY C. WELCOMER, OF STEELTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRICAL WATER HEATER.

Application filed. August 25, 1927. Serial No. 215,357.

The object of my said invention is the provision'of a peculiar and advantageous electrical heater of the type adapted to be immersed in a body of water or other fiuld to be raised in temperature. I

The invention in all its details will be fully understood from the following description and claims when the same are read in connection with the drawings accompanying and forming part; of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the electrical water heater constituting the preferred embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of F igure 1, looking downwardly.

Figure t is an enlarged vertical section taken on the plane indicated by the line H of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail vertical section taken on the plane indicated by the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a diametrical section taken on the plane indicated by the line 6.6 of Fig- Figure 7. is an enlarged vertical section showing the specific construction of the handle portion of my improvement.

Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken on the plane indicated by the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the plane indicated by the line 9-9 of Figure 6, looking downwardly and showing the thermometer bracket and the thermometer of my improvement.

Figure 10 is a detail perspective of one of the frame members of my improvement.

Figure 11 is a detail perspective of one of the braces. 1 7

Figures 12 and 13 are illustrative of a slight modification hereinafter specifically referred to.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the views of the drawings. i v

Among 1 other elements, my improved heater comprises frame members 1 of appropriate metal arranged in a circular series and spaced apart asclearly appears in Figure 1. The said members 1 are identical in construction and therefore a detailed de scription of the one illustrated in Figure 10 will suiiice to impart a definite understanding of all. The frame member alluded 'to is formed in one piece of appropriate metal and is in strap form with spaced uprights 2 in parallelism, outwardly extending apertured terminals 3 at the upper ends of said uprights, bights 4: at the lower ends of the uprights 2, and a crossbar 5 spaced above the lower ends of the uprights 2 and joining the inner ends of the loops or bightsfl.

In thecircular series of frame members 1 and arranged on the cross bars 5 thereof is the annular receptacle 6 of my improvement, the said annular receptacle being also by preference of appropriate metal and being provided at its upper edges of the side walls with lateral flanges 7. It will be noted from Figures 1, 4, 5 and 6 that the loop portions 4- 0f the frame members 1 extend below 7 the bottom of the receptacle 6 and constitute legs designed to support the bottom of the receptacle 6 in spaced relation to a pan, tub or other receptacle in which a body of water is to be heated.

superposed on the flanges of thereceptacle 6 is an annulus 8 of thick metal, the

said annulus 8 bein desi ned to lend inx will be noted that washers 10 are interposed between the terminals 3 and the the receptacle flanges, and that washers 11 are interposed between the terminals 3 and the under side of the annulus 8, the said washers being Iwater proof with a view to excluding water from the interior of the receptacle 6.

Arranged in the receptacle .6 and superposed on the bottom thereof is dielectric annulus 12, of asbestos or other appropriate material, and also arranged in'the receptacle 6 and superposed on the said annulus 12 is the heating unit of myimprovement, the said heating unit being made up of a core 13 annular in form, and wiring 14 coiled about the said "core 13 in the manner best shown in Figures 3, 1 and 5. It will also be understood that braces 15, preferably of metal and which are'good conductors of heat are interposed between. and connected to the core 13 and the metallic annulus 8 so that in "ward, the last named portion of the pipe being designed to form part of the handle through the medium of which the device may be conveniently moved from place to receptacle containing water.

place and disposed in and removed from a The terminals of the wiring 1 1 are designated by 17, Figures 6 and 7, and the said terminals are arranged in an insulating tube 18 and by said tube 18 are electrically isolated from the'annulus 8. In this connection it will be observed in Figure 6 that the insulating tube 18 extends through an aperture in the annulus 8 and also extends a slight distance above the annulus 8 and then inwardly to a point in close proximity to the inner upright 'portion'of the pipe 16, andthen err-- tends upwardly alongside of and closely adjacent to the inner upright portion of the,

pipe 16.

Surrounding the inner upright portions ofthe pipe 16 and the insulating tube 18 is airclastic sleeve 19, preferably of rubber which serves to hold the insulating tube 18 to the inner upright portion of the pipe 16 and at the same time constitutes a convenient hand grasp for the movement of the heating device.

' Within the purview of my invention the terminals 17 may be extended to and connected with any appropriate source of electric energy, and in this connection I would have it understood that when deemed ex- 1 pedient the terminal 17 may comprise fuses 50917", Figure 7, the said fuses 17 when employed being conveniently arranged in a casing 25 connected to and carried by the inner upright portion of the pipe 16. The said fuses 17 are designed to pervent injury to any portion of my improved device in the event of mishap, but I would have it understood that without departing from my invention the fuses 17 may be altogether omitted.

Straddling and frictionally maintained in position on the inner upright portion of the pipe 16 is the thermometer bracket 26 of my improvement, the said bracket 26 being adjustable vertically on the said portion of the pipe 16. Carried on the bracket 26 which extends laterally relative to the inner up right portion of the pipe 16 is a thermometer 27 which is readily readable by a person looking down into the water in which my novel heater is immersed.

Manifestly the llllGllllOII'lCtCl' 27 arranged as indicated will enable a person to readily determine when the temperature of the water has been raised to the extent desired, and therefore the thermometer constitutes a convenient adjunct to'myimprovement.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the heated portion of my improvement is annular in form and is therefore calculated to offer a large heating surface in direct contact with the water to be heated which is manifestly an important advantage. It willalso be appreciated that by virtue of its general annular form my novel heater light in weight and may he therefore manipulated from place to place with but little effort.

\Vhen deemed expedient, the terminals 17 of the wiring 1!: may be connected with a plug, not shown. designed to be placed in an outlet receptacle wit-h a view to electri" cally connecting my novel device with conventional or any other suitable house wiring. The said plug, however, is not per se of my invention and therefor I have deemed it unnecesary to illustrate the same.

I have entered into a detailed description of the construction and relative arrangement of the parts embraced in the present and preferred embodiment of my invention in order to impart a full, clear, and exact understanding of the said embodiment. 'I do not desire, however, to be understood as limiting myself to the construction shown and described, my invention being defined by my appended claims within the scope of which modifications may be made without departure from my invention. For instance. within the purview of my invention, the heating element 14 may be arranged vertically about the core 13, Figure 13, and the heating element 1 1 may be made in sectionsv or side units, Figure 12, so that in case one section or side unit should break the other section orside unitwill continue to serve.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An electrical heater comprising a series of spaced frame members of general U- shape, each of said members having upright spaced portions and a crossbar disposed above the lower ends of said upright portions and also having outwardly extending apertured terminals at the upper ends of said upright portions, an annular receptacle arranged in said frame members and on'the cross bars thereof and having flanges superposed on said apertured terminals, an annulus superposed on the flanges of the receptacle, means connecting the said terminal portions, flanges and annulus together,-

means for excluding water from the interior of the receptacle, a dielectric annulus arranged in the annular receptacle and superposed on the bottom thereof, and a heating unit disposed on said dielectric annulus and having terminals carried through an aperture in the first named annulus.

2. An electrical heater comprising a series of spaced frame members of general U- shape, each of said members having upright spaced portions and a cross bar disposed above the lower ends of said upright portions and also having outwardly extending apertured terminals at the upper ends of said upright portions, an annular receptacle arranged in said frame members and on the cross bars thereof and having flanges superposed on said apertured terminals, an annulus superposed on the flanges of the receptacle, means connecting the said terminal portions, flanges and annulus together, means for excluding water from the interior of the receptacle, a dielectric annulus ar' ranged in the annular receptacle and superposed on the bottom thereof, and a heating unit disposed on said dielectric annulus and having terminals carried through an aperture in the first named annulus, the said heating unit including a core and conductive braces interposed between and connecting said core and said annulus and arranged in.

having an inwardly extending portion ex terior of the annulus and also having an upright portion arranged closely adjacent the upright portion of the pipe and an elastic sleeve embracing the upright portions of the pipe and insulating tube and constituting a hand grasp.

4. An electrical water heater comprising an annulus having a receptacle, a heating unit arranged in said receptacle and having wiring terminals extending outside the receptacle, a pipe connected with the interior of the receptacle and having an inwardly extending portion and an upright portion, the latter adjacent to the center of the annulus, an insulating tube containing the wiring terminals and connected with the annulus and having an inwardly extending portion exterior of the annulus and also having an upright portion arranged closely adjacent the upright portion of the pipe and an elastic sleeve embracing the upright portions of the pipe and insulating tube and constituting a'hand grasp; the upright portion of the said pipe being equipped with a lateral bracket frictionally engaging and embracing said pipe portion, and the said bracket being equipped, in turn, with, a thermometer carried at the upper side thereof.

5. An electrical water heater comprising an annulus having a receptacle, a heating unit arranged in said receptacle and having wiring terminal extending outside the receptacle, a pipe connected with the interior of the receptacle and having an inwardly extending portion and an upright portion, the latter adjacent to the center of the annulus, an insulating tube containing the wiring terminals and connected with the annulus and having an inwardly extending por tion exterior of the annulus and also having an upright portion arranged closely adjacent the upright portion of the pipe and an elastic sleeve embrac ng the upright portions of the pipe and insulating tube and constituting a hand grasp; the said pipe being equipped above the elastic embracing sleeve with a casing alongside the pipe, and

the said wiring terminal including fuses disposed in said casing. In testimony whereof HARRY c. WELCOMER.

I ZLffiX my signature. 

